Starlight Children’s Foundation Midwest, a Chicago-based organization focused on improving the lives and health of chronically ill children and their families, will be the primary beneficiary of Dance Marathon 2015, DM announced Monday night.

Starlight Midwest works to improve hospital life for children with chronic illnesses such as leukemia, Duchenne musclar dystrophy, severe asthma, congenital heart disease and epilepsy. The Midwest chapter of the national organization was founded in 1986 and works in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

DM spokeswoman Arielle Miller said working with the organization will allow DM to continue to support the causes of past beneficiaries. She added there are ways besides dancing to support Starlight Midwest.

“If you are not able to dance or fundraise, there’s incredible service opportunities to work with these Starlight children and build very important beneficiary relationships,” the Medill sophomore said. “We think this is the absolute best organization to engage more people within and beyond the Northwestern community.”

Starlight Midwest’s work impacts children in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Inside hospitals, the organization focuses on the development of Starlight Sites, which include treatment rooms, teen lounges and playrooms. These sites are known as “no white coat zones,” as they are designed to be safe spaces for chronically ill children.

Outside of hospitals, Starlight Midwest plans therapeutic entertainment and educational programs to create opportunities for families to spend time together.

Starlight Midwest plans to build up to 10 additional Starlight Sites with the funds raised from DM. The new sites will allow the organization to reach nearly two million children and family members. One of the sites is planned for Evanston Hospital.

Joan Steltmann (Kellogg ’93), executive director of Starlight Midwest, said being chosen as the primary beneficiary is “a dream come true” for the organization.

“Not only will we be able to undertake unprecedented levels of projects and programming to help us reach the one in 11 kids who need Starlight, but we also have the chance to work with this amazing group of students who have been so impactful to their community,” she said in a press release.

DM spokesman Ross Gordon said the fact that one in 11 children has a chronic illness is evidence of the effect DM’s funds can have on the organization.

“It makes you realize that this organization can touch so many different people and is so vast in scope,” the Medill junior said. “It’s something that we are excited to work a whole year for and very excited to rally the campus behind.”

For the 18th consecutive year, the Evanston Community Foundation will serve as DM’s secondary beneficiary.

The 41st year of DM will be held March 6 to 8, 2015.

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